BUCKINGHAM
always true to him. So wishing you all happiness . . .'* Villiers had secured a powerful ally.
About this time, too, the foundations of a more significant friendship were laid. The King's only surviving son,' Charles, was a shy, reserved youth, not prone to making easy acquaintances, and at first seems to have cordially disliked his father's new favourite. On one occasion James had to box his ears for turning a water spout upon the splendidly immaculate figure of Villiers! At other times, it is recorded, the Prince and the favourite exchanged hot words, and once, during an altercation at tennis, Villiers raised his hand as if to strike Charles. The reasons for this early antipathy are not difficult to find, and more probably resulted from the Prince's character, which in the course of a lonely childhood had developed bewildering complexities, than from Villiers, who could have no possible motive for alienating his future sovereign.
Charles's early years had been spent in the contemplation of excellencies in others, which it seemed that he was destined never to achieve. He was a very delicate child, and few expected that he would ever reach manhood. A slight impediment in his speech rendered him tongue-tied and painfully sensitive in the presence of his fellows. On the other hand, Elizabeth and Henry, his sister and brother, were as healthy and normal as could be desired. Charles adored his sister, and developed a strong hero worship for Henry, whom he loved to watch displaying the virile glory of his young manhood in the tennis court or the tilting yard. One day, the young Charles would tell himself, he would conquer his weakly limbs and do likewise. There was no trace of bitterness or jealousy, however, in his feelings towards the brother who was so far above him, but merely
1 ELLIS, Original Letters, Series I, vol. in, p. 101. 8 His elder son Henry had died of a fever in 1612.
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